The west Belfast rap group Kneecap have been banned from Hungary for three years ahead of their appearance at a music festival.

Irish rap trio Kneecap have been banned from entering Hungary, where they are due to perform at one of Europe’s largest music festivals. The Belfast-based band – who regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs – were to take the stage at the six-day Sziget Festival, which begins on 6 August.

Hungary has banned Irish rap group Kneecap from entering the country to perform at a music festival, accusing the band of using antisemitic hate speech and praising Palestinian militant group Hamas, a government spokesperson said on Thursday.